USCG Warns Positive Test for Pot Could......

[ancora]

Au contraire mon frere...private companies must follow the dictates of their insurers.

 

[Benthic2]

Silly notion.

The list of legal drugs and substances that cause impairment is very long. For your next plane trip do you want your pilot popping prescription pain killers, sipping scotch from the cart or injecting morphine?

Or long haul truckers munching Benadryl. All manners of job occupations are impacted by ingestion of legal substances that are short and long term harmful. Work rules and contracts cite dismissal for on the job impairment. It has been this way for a very long time and will remain so..

Obviously I am not suggesting that being impaired at work is acceptable behavior. I clearly gave the example of smoking on Friday night, and being totally sober by Monday morning, but would still test positive.

 

[friz]

Au contraire mon frere...private companies must follow the dictates of their insurers.

If you had said "ami" I would have understood. "frere" means nothing to me. Are you pre chance being sarcastic? Quien sabe? Please cease showing off your French! I am envious. I studied Spanish. So, we/they are free to choose whatever insurance carriers we/they desire. If an insurance carrier states "you may not exclude pot heads" and we find it in our best interest to do so, we/they are free to seek another carrier. So, with all due respect I do not believe insurance is a germain issue here. There is a lot of competition in insurance.

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

When I worked in HR at the VA, we would do un-announced drug testing on RNs and Doctors. If they popped positive, it was my job to escort them out of the hospital, cancel their security clearances. They were fired on the spot, no second chances.

 

[friz]

Wifey B:
Then one asks what about coke and ecstasy? As employers, we don't care. As humans, we do care if you've got a problem. But their occasional use doesn't adversely impact work performance. If anything they may help you.
:

Egads man, send me and application post haste! I need help!

Point of interest: for the last year or so I see you preface every post with "Wifey B". Pray tell, what the hell does that mean?

 

[BandB]

When I worked in HR at the VA, we would do un-announced drug testing on RNs and Doctors. If they popped positive, it was my job to escort them out of the hospital, cancel their security clearances. They were fired on the spot, no second chances.

There are a lot of companies with random testing and zero tolerance. I understand certain situations and certain drugs. However, for most businesses it's a very shortsighted approach. Very costly from a morale standpoint and even more so financially. Ironically, most do not have the same intolerance to alcoholism.

Just a rhetorical question. If an employee goes out riding a motorcycle over the weekend, is involved in a serious accident, hospitalized with hundreds of thousands of medical costs, and is out for three months, are they terminated? Yet, we'll terminate someone who fails a drug test rather than offer them rehabilitation if needed.

All drugs and all situations are not created equal. So many drugs one can legally be on that can impair performance and can be addictive.

In the last six years, we have sent 13 people for inpatient alcohol or drug rehabilitation. Medical bills and disability payments covered. Minimum time for rehab has been one month and longest was six months, although all require continued treatment on an outpatient basis. 10 have stayed sober, 3 relapsed. For us, it's been a very good investment. We've also had 6 others sent for inpatient mental health care, not involving drugs or alcohol. That's not counting family members treated. Parkland led to one employee and 2 family members needing help.

I look at a solution that is educate, identify early, rehabilitate. We do encourage employees to take an active role in identifying friends and coworkers with problems. I've seen a significant shift away from refusing to get involved. The suicide, overdose, and accidental death rates of young people are creating an increased awareness and responsibility.

All our wars on drugs have been failures to this point. We can't swear ours is the ideal solution. However, it's an attempt to address the underlying issues rather than just the symptoms.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. BB. While I applaud your assessment and realistic approach to addiction and or use of banned substances your affirmative actions are naive, at best.

The "war on drugs" is BIG business. Hundreds, nay thousands of DEA agents would be out of a job if an actual solution to "drugs" was initiated. For profit prisons would lose massive amounts of $$. Pharmaceutical company stocks would plunge. That's the main reason it is still against the law to possess or use at the federal level. Actually fixing the problem would be very bad for business.



Why do you think that pot was moved from a class 1 drug to a class 5 drug? Profits, my son. NOTHING to do with the medical benefits of either CBD or THC or the welfare of the population, in general. NOTHING!!!
When the individual states legalized pot, those very people who were completely against "drugs" lobbied for the reclassification of pot so they could "get in on the action" and became some of the largest investors in the industry.
As with everything, follow the $$.

 

[Al]

Error in my post, it is under
not over .03 THC- Sorry- Al

CBD Hemp contains less than .03 THC. Period. Test on CBD will not reflect THC UNDER that amount. Period. In direct conversations with State of Alaska certified drug test providers, there has been no test locally where CHB has been detected as a hallucinatory factor. Add this to multply sources confirming that statement.
https://www.usdrugtestcenters.com/drug-test-blog/181/can-you-fail-a-drug-test-due-to-cbd.html

https://www.thecannabist.co/2017/03/10/marijuana-drug-test-cbd-cannabidiol-positive/74014/

And last, the Cascades of articles confirming the content of CBD/THC.

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=drug+testing+for+marijuana++where+CBD+is+involved+facts&t=h_&ia=web

As clarification- Yes, I use CBD at the rate of 100mg daily for arthritus, blood pressure, and pre diabetus. My wife is using for Parkinson's where her tremors are now nil, her night mares have ceased, and her sleep habits are back to normal.


It is my opinion too often opinions are just that without doing any personal due diligence.

 

[BandB]

Why do you think that pot was moved from a class 1 drug to a class 5 drug? Profits, my son. NOTHING to do with the medical benefits of either CBD or THC or the welfare of the population, in general. NOTHING!!!
When the individual states legalized pot, those very people who were completely against "drugs" lobbied for the reclassification of pot so they could "get in on the action" and became some of the largest investors in the industry.
As with everything, follow the $$.

Coming from a state where alcohol is controlled and sold by the state through ABC stores, I think the states totally missed out on the potential where they could have done that with pot. At least the states would be making the money and not those who are. The distribution would have been better managed and controlled too.

 

[psneeld]

Having been a member of the drug war team for 2 decades, my gut feeling on the federal government's position on MJ is ore than money.


While the best argument on the surface, I have to wonder what international complications may also be involved because of irrational resistance and unbelievable program requirements to medical MJ.

 

[Northern Spy]

Coming from a state where alcohol is controlled and sold by the state through ABC stores, I think the states totally missed out on the potential where they could have done that with pot. At least the states would be making the money and not those who are. The distribution would have been better managed and controlled too.

That's why Canada legalized it! Another tax income stream.

 

[Northern Spy]

Admittedly, I have a negative view of pot. Generally because I see addiction prone people not live up to their potential.

Furthermore, I have always worked in places where impairment can lead to a fatality, so I appreciate the zero tolerance aspects that some employers maintain.

In an office environment... Meh, not so much. Maybe they goof up some ciphering and forget to carry the naught.

I think where the whole legalization thing messed up is not being able to check for impairment. Not sure what the RCMP has at their disposal. Perhaps I'll find out at a check stop someday...

 

[Woodland Hills]

I am all in favor of zero tolerance: would you want the counter employee at Burger King to be high on pot when she’s making up your order? Or what if the clerk at the clothing store was high when folding clothes and stocking shelves? And who would want to eat food grown by a pot-smoking farmer? I shudder to think of what could happen!

Besides, I want to be absolutely sure that any minimum wage workers I interact with are as miserable as possible at all times. Why should they escape the drudgery and boredom of their jobs in any way shape or form? If they didn’t want to hate their jobs, they should have had mommy or daddy bribe an admissions official to get them into Harvard.......

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Just a rhetorical question. If an employee goes out riding a motorcycle over the weekend, is involved in a serious accident, hospitalized with hundreds of thousands of medical costs, and is out for three months, are they terminated? Yet, we'll terminate someone who fails a drug test rather than offer them rehabilitation if needed.

If the motorcycle rider is a U.S. Federal employee and in a drug testing position, and pops positive for a controlled substance (MJ is a controlled substance under Federal Law) they are immediately terminated. They are also banned from federal employment for 10 years.

 

[psneeld]

For years those same job positions might have been functionally drunk along with airline pilots, ferry captains, railroad engineers, etc....


So my poorly made burger at midnight maybe isn't such a big thing. 0

 

[BandB]

If the motorcycle rider is a U.S. Federal employee and in a drug testing position, and pops positive for a controlled substance (MJ is a controlled substance under Federal Law) they are immediately terminated. They are also banned from federal employment for 10 years.

I didn't say anything about the motorcycle rider being on pot. Just a sober clean motorcycle rider.

 

[BandB]

For years those same job positions might have been functionally drunk along with airline pilots, ferry captains, railroad engineers, etc....


So my poorly made burger at midnight maybe isn't such a big thing. 0

Good point. The person who got drunk last night and the person who smoked a joint last night are equal in my mind. I don't want a hung over employee helping customers, regardless of what their cause is. The only ones I can police though are those consuming on the job or very recently before it. The others just show up in continued poor performance.

I've also seen functioning alcoholics and functioning potheads that most people couldn't tell because they hadn't seen them work sober so didn't have a comparison. Now they're at 70-80% which may be equal to some other sober employees. However, if one has observed them over a long time and when sober, they can tell the difference. Hopefully someone can tell they've developed a problem and confront and assist them.

 

[Todd2]

My job has been labeled as a "safety sensitive" position by the federal government for the last 25-30 years. I, and others like me, have been randomly drug tested since that time. A half hour after Colorado announced it was decriminalizing pot (we all knew it was coming), our home office sent an email to all employees notifying us that the zero tolerance drug testing policy will remain in effect, regardless of local laws. I saw a few good people go when the policy was first implemented, but hardly anyone gets nabbed any more these days. If you want the job in this industry, you've got to comply. (I can wait till I retire - LOL).


Todd2

 

[psneeld]

I would love to see this thread alongside a zero tolerance thread for drinking on a vessel underway.

 

[Woodland Hills]

There should be zero tolerance at all times for alcohol onboard since all aboard may need to respond to an equipment failure or other emergency at any time. Even tied in a slip, there could be a fire on another vessel which would make it necessary to move the boat. Given this reality, use of any drugs, alcohol, medicine or even antihistamines is irresponsible.......... Right? Or maybe not.

 

[psneeld]

Right, no one should ever be allowed to do anything.


Drugs, alcohol, work on their own boat, tip people, run their genset, choose any anchor they want, etc, etc....



Read it all right here on TF....

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. NS. Re: Post #42: "...check for impairment..." HAH! you win the internet today! There is a standard accepted level (.07/.08) for blood level alcohol beyond which one is considered "impaired". One might have a beer after work and be stopped in a roadside check a half hour later and blow say... .02. Possibly chastised BUT not charged with DUI.

In exactly the SAME scenario, one might have a joint on Saturday night, be stopped on Tuesday and show positive in a THC test.

BOTH of the above would NOT necessarily be impaired but the pot user will be charged.


There is NO standard accepted level for THC "impairment" nor an easy test that can quickly be administered at a roadside stop similar to a breathalyzer.


What a business opportunity for some crafty inventor. I can see it now...


LEO: Have you been drinking this evening sir
SUSPECT: No officer.
LEO: Any marijuana smoking?
SUSPECT: Um...ah...er...no officer.
LEO: Hmmm....Would you like a Snickers bar?

LEO: Step out of the car please....

 

[geoleo]

Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, pot heads are not a legally protected class. If it does not offend the law, private companies are free to place whatever restrictions they chose on employment.

Alcohol is legal- try showing up drunk -or several times with a big hangover.

 

[geoleo]

There should be zero tolerance at all times for alcohol onboard since all aboard may need to respond to an equipment failure or other emergency at any time. Even tied in a slip, there could be a fire on another vessel which would make it necessary to move the boat. Given this reality, use of any drugs, alcohol, medicine or even antihistamines is irresponsible.......... Right? Or maybe not.

Basically right!

 

[geoleo]

Why are clean people forced to live with drunks and those stoned out of their minds ??? Don't they have rights to a sober world??

 

[geoleo]

Look how many "impaired" drivers kill. I predict all this liberal bullshit will be gone in 10 years. "A hard moon rising on the right"!

 

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

I would love to see this thread alongside a zero tolerance thread for drinking on a vessel underway.

That's the rule on my boat.......

 

[BandB]

Greetings,
Mr. NS. Re: Post #42: "...check for impairment..." HAH! you win the internet today! There is a standard accepted level (.07/.08) for blood level alcohol beyond which one is considered "impaired". One might have a beer after work and be stopped in a roadside check a half hour later and blow say... .02. Possibly chastised BUT not charged with DUI.

In exactly the SAME scenario, one might have a joint on Saturday night, be stopped on Tuesday and show positive in a THC test.

BOTH of the above would NOT necessarily be impaired but the pot user will be charged.


There is NO standard accepted level for THC "impairment" nor an easy test that can quickly be administered at a roadside stop similar to a breathalyzer.


What a business opportunity for some crafty inventor. I can see it now...


LEO: Have you been drinking this evening sir
SUSPECT: No officer.
LEO: Any marijuana smoking?
SUSPECT: Um...ah...er...no officer.
LEO: Hmmm....Would you like a Snickers bar?

LEO: Step out of the car please....

Actually the trend in alcohol is toward a .05 limit. Moving faster in Europe than the US. Commercial drivers and those below drinking age it's .02.

A similar test is needed for pot.

I find the field testing for impairment, the 9 steps to and from and other, to be subject to so much judgement.

I will say, anyone who ever smokes weed in their car is stupid. Get stopped for a tail light out and roll down your window and you're going to get the thorough inspection. Doesn't matter when or who it was. Don't these people watch Live PD?

But then 95% of all operating while impaired violations, alcohol or weed, start with the smell being detected.

 

[DC36Monk]

Yeah, and don't try to cross the border from Washington to Canada with your stash. It's legal in both places but you can't take your stash with you if you're going either direction.

When you cross into Canada driving, there is a warning sign that you are required to declare all cannabis products. Don’t know whether it’s a trick or not, but I think I’ll let someone else find out.

 

[BandB]

Wifey B: I was reading notes from within our company and saw that we had a kid who was working 5 till 9 one afternoon who when he arrived the manager immediately detected the smell of marijuana. She stared at him and said "You do want to call in sick and take an Uber home don't you?" She said it in a way he knew it wasn't an option. He did so and she talked to him the next day. Told him "It's sure good you didn't come to work yesterday. I would have hated having to terminate you." Then she had a long talk with him about his lack of judgement. He apologized profusely. She made it clear it should never happen again.

We employee a lot of young people and they screw up. We try to teach them. Our rules are firm. You don't have a drink before work either. Many kids do not know how to handle alcohol or weed.

In South Florida and many other areas one of the real dangers today is all the synthetics. You never know what you might get. That's a danger with legal marijuana, there's a trend toward better and stronger and someone who has had a few joints before suddenly gets something much stronger. Like going from a lite beer to Bacardi 151. Then, the leading cause of death, Fentanyl. Terrifying. Vicodin, Percocet, Heroin, may not kill you the first time, but it sure will. It's all scary. Ecstasy is a very safe drug, but what it's laced with. In it's pure form, the only real danger is dehydration. But only 35% of the pills sold are really MDMA and only 55% MDMA or MDXX. You might get Vitamin B12 or you might get heroin or acid or meth or bath salts, because all are cheaper than MDMA so what do you think your friendly drug provider will do.

Buying and doing drugs is a dangerous, dangerous game of Russian Roulette. They do actually have test equipment for some.